Galápagos triple junction

Although this collision is not uniform in its entirety[clarification needed], geologists and scientists have used various forms of study in an attempt to understand its physical history.

Over time, it has been hypothesized that the triple junction of the Nazca, Cocos, and Pacific plates was once colliding in various areas[clarification needed] but now is a simple RRR (ridge-ridge-ridge), with all divergent spreading ridges.

These plates have different directions and velocities of movement, which have all over time adjusted providing new tectonic formations like various spreading ridges and the Galápagos microplate.

Determining relative geological ages in the area is challenging due to constant volcanic activity along spreading ridges and trenches bordering each plate boundary.

[3] In the Galápagos triple junction, the three corresponding plates don't collide perfectly but instead display differences in responses to individual velocities.

Since this these faults along each plate are not uniform or consistent, the Galápagos microplate is being created via different velocities and directions of spreading that have changed over millions of years.